After Effects MCP — Integration and AI Agent Guide

This skill file instructs AI agents on how to control Adobe After Effects using the Node.js after-effects-mcp and Go ae-mcp integrations. It details ExtendScript scripting, layer manipulation, keyframe animation, and troubleshooting steps.

1. Overview and Pipeline Value

The After Effects MCP Server integrations enable AI assistants to programmatically control Adobe After Effects (2022+). They automate title design, motion graphics layouts, layer adjustments, mask path generations, and visual effects pipelines.

Architecture

• JSX Script Bridge: Because After Effects lacks a native REST API, control is achieved using an ExtendScript (.jsx) panel.
• after-effects-mcp (Node.js): Writes commands to a local temp file. An AE panel script (mcp-bridge-auto.jsx) polls this file every few seconds, executes the script via AE's JavaScript engine, and writes the output back to disk.
• ae-mcp (Go): Exposes similar ExtendScript bridges and includes a Manim Integration to render mathematical equations using Python's Manim package and import them into AE as transparent WebP animations.

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Which server

Server	Use for	Fallback when
bdb_after_effects_mcp (@kumoproductions/mcp-aftereffects, Node >= 24)	Primary. This skill's tool table documents the older after-effects-mcp, not this package.	Undocumented.
bdb_after_effects_mcp_fallback (Go ae-mcp, needs go)	Layer wrappers plus generate-manim-render for Manim equation clips.	bdb_after_effects_mcp is unavailable (pair labelled primary/fallback; no other trigger documented).

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2. System Instructions

Workflow Priorities

1. Enable Scripting Preferences: After Effects must have "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network" enabled (Preferences -> Scripting & Expressions).
2. Verify the Bridge Panel is Open: Ensure the mcp-bridge-auto.jsx panel is loaded in After Effects (Window -> mcp-bridge-auto.jsx) and that the "Auto-run commands" checkbox is checked. Without it, commands will hang.
3. Handle coordinates safely: After Effects uses a 2D coordinate system originating from the top-left corner [0,0] of the active composition.
4. ExtendScript Fallback: If a high-level tool cannot perform a complex layer relationship task, write a custom script and execute it via the run-script tool.

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3. Available Tools and API Parameters

Node-based after-effects-mcp Tools

Tool	Parameters	Description
create-composition	name: string, width: int, height: int, frameRate: float, duration: float	Spawns a new comp in the active project.
run-script	script: string	Evaluates arbitrary ExtendScript code inside the AE DOM.
get-results	None	Reads the result of the last executed script.
setLayerProperties	layerIndex: int, properties: object	Adjusts position [x,y,z], scale [x,y,z], opacity, rotation, 3D status, or blendMode.
setLayerKeyframe	layerIndex: int, propertyName: string, time: float, value: any	Creates a keyframe on a layer property at a specified timeline position.
setLayerExpression	layerIndex: int, propertyName: string, expression: string	Binds a Javascript expression to a target property (e.g. wiggle(5, 20)).
createCamera	name: string, zoom: float	Adds a 3D camera layer to the active composition.
setLayerMask	layerIndex: int, maskName: string, points: float[][]	Configures mask paths, feathering, expansion, and opacity.

Go-based ae-mcp Tools

• Includes identical layer creation wrappers.
• generate-manim-render(code: string): Executes Python Manim to render math equations and imports them as WebP clips into the project assets folder.

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4. Code Recipes and Prompt Cookbook

Recipe 1: Standard Kinetic Typography

Create a composition, add a text layer, center it, and apply a scale wiggle expression:

// Step 1: Create Comp
// Tool: create-composition(name="TitleAnimation", width=1920, height=1080, frameRate=29.97, duration=5.0)

// Step 2: Write ExtendScript to add a text layer
// Tool: run-script(script="var comp = app.project.activeItem; var textLayer = comp.layers.addText('HELLO BDB OS'); textLayer.property('Position').setValue([960, 540]);")

// Step 3: Apply Wiggle to Scale
// Tool: setLayerExpression(layerIndex=1, propertyName="Scale", expression="wiggle(2, 15)")

Recipe 2: Custom Text Ingest from File

To batch-generate subtitles or title cards using run-script:

// Call tool: run-script(script="...")
var comp = app.project.activeItem;
if (comp && comp instanceof CompItem) {
    app.beginUndoGroup("Create Titles");
    var titles = ["Design", "Develop", "Deploy"];
    for (var i = 0; i < titles.length; i++) {
        var textLayer = comp.layers.addText(titles[i]);
        textLayer.property("Position").setValue([960, 200 + (i * 200)]);
        textLayer.startTime = i * 1.5;
        textLayer.outPoint = (i + 1) * 1.5;
    }
    app.endUndoGroup();
    "Successfully created " + titles.length + " text layers.";
} else {
    "Error: No active composition.";
}

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5. Troubleshooting and Connection Details

Configuration and Setup

• ExtendScript Panel: The bridge operates via mcp-bridge-auto.jsx.
• Install Panel:

  # run installer script from the after-effects-mcp folder
  npm run install-bridge
  

  This places the script inside After Effects' ScriptUI Panels folder.
• Active Communication: Node MCP runs locally using standard stdio. Ensure the client config file is properly wired up:

  "AfterEffectsMCP": {
    "command": "node",
    "args": ["<your-home-directory>/.gemini/config/mcps/after-effects-mcp/build/index.js"]
  }
  

Common Errors and Fixes

1. Adobe Script Error: Security setting does not allow this script to write files
   • Fix: In After Effects, go to Preferences -> Scripting & Expressions and check the box "Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network".
2. Commands are hanging / No response from server
   • Cause: The bridge UI panel is closed in After Effects, or the "Auto-run" checkbox is disabled.
   • Fix: Navigate to Window -> mcp-bridge-auto.jsx in the top menu and verify that the panel is open and actively polling (indicated by status prints in the panel window).
3. ExtendScript undefined variable or Layer index out of bounds
   • Cause: ExtendScript arrays in After Effects are 1-indexed for layers (comp.layer(1)) while the Node tools layer indices might be 0-indexed depending on the tool call translation. Ensure you map boundaries carefully.